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Special Alert

October 24, 2005



BEWARE - Misleading Information Spreading about Prop. 2



Political Advertising Campaign, "Save Texas Marriage," Is a Fraud!



Special Message from Free Market Foundation President Kelly Shackelford, Esq.

"Deceptive phone calls are now going out telling people to vote NO because of a supposed flaw in the legislation of Prop. 2. There must be a lot of them because we are getting calls from a number of supporters who are confused. The calls from "Save Texas Marriage" are so deceptive that they are even ending the call saying "God Bless You." One of these starts out from a "Reverend" and says that Governor Perry messed up, and that there is a hidden liberal agenda. The group is even calling seniors who would typically support conservative legislation. We have received several calls from people who were mislead into voting something today they did not believe. This is an all out fraud to deceive voters.

Please Beware."



CLICK HERE to read a more detailed response to some of these false messages.

http://www.freemarket.org/portal/pdf/KELLY%20LETTER.pdf

Groups Using the Following Scare Tactics:



· Deceptive Phone Calls

"Save Texas Marriage" has a website devoted to setting up call banks to trick voters. The argument is completely false. The second sentence in no way invalidates the first sentence. Do not be fooled, including by calls ending in, "God bless you."



· Deceptive Press Conferences

According to media reports, the press conference today to announce this campaign was completely baseless. Every respectable legal leader, including groups known for advocating for same-sex marriage like Lambda Legal, have declined to support this ridiculous legal position taken by Save Texas Marriage. At this point, no other groups will associate themselves with this deceptive campaign to trick voters. The phantom group shares office space with No Nonsense in November, the PAC fighting against the amendment.



· Lies to Voters at Polls

There has been confusion over how to vote at the polls. If you want to vote to only have marriages between one man and one woman, vote FOR the amendment. Voting AGAINST the amendment will mean that you want to allow homosexual marriages in Texas.

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Additional information compiled from various sources by Deany Meinke:

Please VOTE YES on Proposition 2
and Spread the Word of its Importance!

It is imperative that we encourage voters to go to the poles and
vote YES on Proposition 2. I recently attended two city council candidate forums and the applause AGAINST this bill far outnumbered those for it! Those opposing Prop. 2 are mustering their forces to defeat this constitutional amendment.

Voter participation in this election is anticipated to be VERY LOW.
If the opposition continues to rally their troops – Prop. 2 will lose!

There are numerous states with lawsuits already on the books challenging the "discrimination" of one man/one woman marriage. The opposition says “ . . . one man-one woman is already Texas law - so why change it? No cases challenging this have been filed in TX, so . . .”

· Why is a Marriage Amendment Needed? At last count, there were over 60- lawsuits across the country to overturn state marriage laws. This is not an accident. IT is the carrying out of a specific plan by Lambda Legal and Homosexual activists. Over a decade ago, they realized they could not win a vote for same-sex marriage in any state; they thus started a specific plan to redefine marriage through the courts. They have won in Hawaii, Alaska, Vermont, Massachusetts and recently in California.

· State Law already limits marriage to one man/one woman. Why bother to change the Texas constitution? -Because it's only a matter of time before lawsuits challenging one man/one woman marriage will also be filed in Texas. State laws in other states did not stop activist judges from overturning marriage. A state statute is no barrier to an activist Judge. Prop. 2 lets the people decide.

· Why pass Prop. 2? If Prop. 2 passes and the Texas constitution is changed - it will be VERY difficult to challenge and almost impossible to change. This will protect marriage between one man and one woman for generations to come. Do we want our children and grandchildren looking back at 2005, thinking we were ‘asleep at the wheel’?
. If Prop 2 fails – it will no doubt provide a ‘valid’ argument for the lawsuits to be filed: "Texas voters did not approve one man/one woman marriage amendment - so they must WANT to open it up to other marriages".

· Discrimination: When the issue was debated at the recent forums, this word was used over and over - and it makes a strong sympathetic case to many voters. However, compassion for the discrimination issue for benefits, insurance and tax rights is not what this amendment is about. That’s another issue to be taken up by the legislature and the courts – not at the risk of the traditional family. Companies already have a choice as to whether to provide benefits to civil unions.

· Shouldn’t we love homosexuals and Lesbians? Absloutely. Every person is made in the image of God and of great value. Each person should be loved and respected.

· Want to see what the opposition says? Check out the following deceptive website: www.NoNonsenseInNovember.com. This is only one of several groups promoting the "NO" vote for Prop. 2. Another group opposing Proposition 2 is the extremely liberal group www.MoveOn.org.

· Now check out the HELPFUL WEBSITE for conservative voters- www.Vote4Marriage.com and be at the polls November 8!

The opposition is working overtime to defeat one man/one woman marriage.
Are you working to protect it?
Please talk to your family, friends, neighbors and church family.
It is imperative that we Get Voters Out to the Polls.
Otherwise, Traditional Marriage in Texas Stands to be Lost!
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Additional information compiled from various sources by Melinda Fredericks:
Please spread the word to all like-minded Texas registered voters:
Constitutional Amendments Election – Early voting begins now.
Texans will decide the definition of marriage for Texas.
Below you will find:
-Early voting begins Monday, October 24, 2005.
-Proposed amendment number 2 defines marriage as being between one man and one woman.
-Websites for analyses of the nine proposed amendments.
-A short explanation of each amendment.
-Find the early voting times and locations for your county.

Early voting is October 24 through November 4, 2005.
Early voting begins Monday, October 24, 2005, for nine amendments to the Texas Constitution.

Amendment to define marriage
Second on the ballot is a proposed amendment providing for the definition of marriage as being between one man and one woman. The wording on the ballot reads as follows:

No. 2
"The constitutional amendment providing that marriage in this state consists only of the union of one man and one woman and prohibiting this state or a political subdivision of this state from creating or recognizing any legal status identical or similar to marriage."

If you are like me, then you consider this election to be of utmost importance to the future of Texas families. Constitutional amendment elections typically have a turnout of between 5 and 7 percent. Thus, a small percentage of the state decides this election. Your vote really matters, especially in this election.

Opponents of Amendment 2 are working tirelessly to defeat it. Thousands of dollars have been poured into Texas from other states in order to defeat Amendment 2.

More information about the Marriage amendment is available at http://www.texansformarriage.org/

Analyses of the nine proposed amendments
For Free Market Foundation's (Kelly Shackleford) analyses of all nine proposed amendments go to:
http://www.freemarket.org/portal/pdf/2005%20Amendments.pdf

The Texas Secretary of State analyses of the proposed amendment is available at:
(brief explanation)
http://www.sos.state.tx.us/elections/voter/2005novconsamend.shtml
(full analyses)
http://www.tlc.state.tx.us/pubsconamend/analyses05/analyses05.pdf

A quick look at the nine proposed amendments
(Note: this is not the wording on the ballot)
1. Creates a fund in the state treasury for Texas railroad relocation and improvement
2. Defines marriage as a union only between one man and one woman.
3. Clarifies that certain economic development programs do not constitute a debt.
4. Adds a provision to consider previous violations of release when a defendant in a felony case is up for bail at a later hearing
5. Allows the Texas Legislature, which regulates the interest rates of all loans, to create exemptions to interest rate ceilings, specifically for the commercial loan industry.
6. Increases the membership of the State Commission on Judicial Conduct (SCJC) from 11 to 13 members and eliminates current restrictions on geographic location of public members.
7. Authorizes senior homeowners to take line-of-credit advances under a reverse mortgage.
8. Releases the state's right to claim ownership of 4600 acres of land in Upshur County and 950 acres of land in Smith County.
9. Changes terms for Regional Mobility Authority (RMA) board members from two-year terms to staggered six-year terms.

Early voting times and locations
For early voting times and locations, you can contact your County clerk or Elections Administrator. The phone number for your county can be found at http://www.sos.state.tx.us/elections/voter/votregduties.shtml . (See Montgomery County locations at the end of this email.)

Final notes
If you are registered to vote but you can't find your voter registration card, you can still vote. Go to your voting location, and show them your driver's license. If you don't have a driver's license, there are other forms of ID which are acceptable.

Although the vast majority of Texans favor the traditional definition of marriage, this election could be lost if people don't turn out to vote. Please be sure to remind to vote your friends, fellow church members, and members of organizations you are involved with.

Sincerely,

Melinda Fredricks
Texas State Republican Executive Committeewoman
Senate District 4
Republican Party of Texas